Central New York remembers 9/11 terrorist attacks

Mike Greenlar / The Post StandardSusan Gilbert of the Suburban Garden Club (left) and Pat Masten from the original DeWitt 9/11 Memorial committee sit in front of the DeWitt 9/11 Memorial near the town hall.

When the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell in a dusty cloud, it wasn't just New York City feeling the horror. When the Pentagon erupted in a fireball, it wasn't just Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia in mourning.

And when a field became the symbol of heroism by Flight 93 passengers, it wasn't just Pennsylvania feeling the grief.

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 were felt by people in towns, villages and cities across the nation and around the world.

And today, even after eight years, people will gather in places big and small across Central New York to remember the 2,975 people killed in the attacks.

Some municipalities, such as Syracuse, have simple moments of silence at 8:30 a.m. Others, such as North Syracuse, will have music. Still others, such as Cleveland, bring in bands, speakers and a 21-gun salute.

People will gather in Cleveland, DeWitt, Marietta, Cazenovia, Phoenix and other places today. Many have different reasons for putting on these commemorations year after year.

Ken Francisco has a remembrance each year on his yard near Marietta.

"This attack was a personal thing," he said.

Jim Ransom, who served on the first 9/11 committee in Cleveland, said, "If we don't keep this alive, it's like we're losing those 3,000 people all over again."

Pat Masten, of DeWitt, who went so far as to contact former Mayor Rudolph Guiliani to obtain a piece of the World Trade Center debris, said it's a sign of our national unity.

"We are all part of this country. These were our fellow citizens," she said. "We have to remember these people."

Cleveland: Silent walk at 6:45 p.m. begins at Cleveland Elementary School. Program follows at the park. Reception at American Legion.

Liverpool: Public library will remember victims by illuminating the flag from 12:01 a.m. to noon, displaying the library's Freedom Tree and giving out patriotic items at the desk.

Marietta: Five-minute video of 9/11 events followed by video of the names of the victims, 3878 Hunt Road, near the Onondaga-Otisco town line. At about 8:15 p.m., there will be a video of two sky cannon search lights.

North Syracuse: Remembering the Heroes, a tribute in music, 7:30 p.m., Andrews Memorial Methodist Church, 106 Church St.

Phoenix: Observance at 7 p.m. in Henley Park, State Street. Everyone should bring a candle and chair.

Elsewhere: Visit our In Depth blog to see what a little town in the Midwest has done to remember 9/11 and to see what is planned in New York, Shanksville, Pa., and Washington, D.C.

Timothy Delaney isn't surprised at the comments.

As an associate professor and chair of the sociology department at the State University College at Oswego, he studies the actions of people and why they do what they do.

"I think these commemorations will continue into the indefinite future," he said. "The event seemed so surreal. Everyone asked, 'How could this happen?'"

"This hits everybody with the ultimate sense of community," he said. "It may not have affected us directly. But it did, because it was an attack on our country."

Many communities -- including three in Central New York -- have erected monuments made from debris from the World Trade Center.

Steve Coleman, speaking for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said two dozen pieces from Ground Zero have been received from the authority for use in local memorials. Other pieces, like those in the DeWitt and Canastota memorials, came from the New York City government.

"Our committee thought about 'should we have a ceremony every five years, maybe every 10?'" said Eugene Conway, chair of the DeWitt 9/11 committee. "But we decided it is important to remember that day, on that day, every year."

Cleveland, a picturesque little village on the north shore of Oneida Lake that's home to 735 people, has a remembrance event each year on Sept. 11.

This year, children at Cleveland Elementary will gather around the flagpole at 2:45 to say the pledge and hear from a Navy commander, a Syracuse police officer, veterans and fire department members.

Then in the evening, people will gather at the school for a four-block silent walk, hear reflections from clergy, the mournful strains of a bagpiper, a 21-gun salute and singing of "God Bless America."

"Too many people in this country forget about things like this in their day-to-day lives," Ransom said. "I can't believe some communities aren't doing something to commemorate this each year. We do this every year because this should not be forgotten."

But what about 50, 60, 75 years from now? Will people still remember? Or as people who lived through that day die, will it become a footnote in history?

"I don't think it will ever, ever be forgotten," Ransom said. "I know Cleveland will be doing this every year."